The party said it was not close to any option to decide who will be the next President even as it frowned on suggestions that the next President should not be a politician saying such a view amounted to actually belittling incumbent Pratibha Patil.
Congress on Monday said it was not close to any option to decide who will be the next President even as it frowned on suggestions that the next person for the Rashtrapati Bhawan should not be a politician saying such a view amounted to actually belittling incumbent Pratibha Patil.
As NCP chief Sharad Pawar favoured a person with "not too much" of a political mind for the Presidentship, Congress spokesperson Reuka Chowdhary spoke of consensus saying the party had an "open mind" on the issue.
"It is actually belittling current President. There is a history that shows that in India, the President is not aligned to any political party. We do not see any insecurity in from wherever he or she comes," Chowdhary told reporters at the AICC briefing.
She at the same time made it clear that the party has not closed any option or rigid against any name.
"We will listen to them. They are our allies. If they have some opinion, it is our duty to listen to them. We are listening to all views. But a decision will be taken in this regard by the Core Commmittee,"she said when asked about Pawar's remarks as well as Samajwadi Party's preference to put up former President APJ Abdul Kalam as the candidate.
To repeated questions on a second term for Kalam, Chowdhary said "I cannot say if the collective thinking is that, so be it".
Asked whether Congress was against Kalam's candidature , she merely said, " we respect him it was nice to have had Kalam (as President). I don't have the authority to say anything more than this".
Chowdhary said there are different suggestions and inputs regarding it from various quarters and everyone will be considered as the President has to be one who will have certain qualities and one from whom the nation can benefit.
A Congress leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said somebody, who has a deep undertanding of politics and governance, fits the bill for the job, thereby indicating that chances of a non-political nominee are bleak.
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